Overhead loader



Feb. 5, 1963 A. R. SCHLEMMER OVERHEAD LOADER Filed Aug. 17, 1960 2-Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY (Um!) WKQWP AUBREY R. SCH LEMMER in iFeb. 5, 1963' A. R. SCHLEMMER 3,076,572

OVERHEAD LOADER Filed Aug. 17, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR AUBREY R.SCHLEMAZER ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice Patented Feb. 5, 19633,076,572 OVERHEAD LUADER Aubrey R. Schiemmer, Willow Drive, Whiteshoro,NLY'.

Filed Aug. 17, 1960, Ser. No. 59,143

4 Claims. (Cl. 214- -140) This invention.relatesgenerally to excavatingandv material handling machines, and has particular reference to anoverhead loading attachment for heavy duty vehicles such as tractors andthe like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an overhead loadingattachment of the character described which can be used with any tractorhaving a standard front or rear mounted power or cable control unit, aswill be described in more detail hereinafter.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an overheadloader attachment of the character described which is capable of.considerably faster operation than other types of overhead loadingmachines in common use at the present time.

A further important object of the invention is to provide an overheadloader attachment of the character described which has a very simpleand. economical construction, and can be easily installed on almost anystandard make of tractor.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide anoverhead loader attachment for tractors having acompletely mechanicalconstruction whichrequires a minimum of maintenance and repair.

A still further important object of the invention is to provide anoverhead loader attachment for tractors which is strong and durable andhighly efficient in operation.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an overhead loaderattachment fortractors having a novel reductiondrum unit for controllingthe operation of the overhead material handling bucket.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description thereof read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings which illustrate a representative embodiment ofthe invention for the purpose of disclosure.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a conventional tractor equipped with anoverhead loading attachment embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of an alternative arrangementfor attaching the bucket to the bucket supporting arms; and

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section through the bucket taken substantiallyalong line 44 of FIGURE 2.

Having specific reference now to the drawings, wherein like referencenumbers designate the same part in each of the views, generallyindicates a substantially conventional, commercially available tractorincluding the usual frame 12, engine 14, operators seat 16 and operatingcontrols 18. The treads indicated at 20 may be driven in the usualmanner and controlled by means commonly provided for tractors of thistype. In the embodiment disclosed, a collecting and loading bucket orscoop 22 is positioned adjacent the front end" of the tractorfordiggingor collecting material, and this bucket is adapted to be swung over thetop of the tractor so that the material in the bucket can be dumped intoa truck (notshown) adjacent the rear end of the tractor. In this manner,the tractor can perform its work with a minimum amount of maneuveringand no turning.

The bucket 22- is supportedby a pair of elongated arms- 24 which arepivotally connected as at 26 to opposite sides of the tractoradjacentthe rear end thereof. At

their outer ends, t he arms are rigidly connected togethep by a crossbar 28 which normally abuts against a bar 30 extending across the lowerrear portion of the bucket as best shown in FIGURE 1. The outer end ofeach arm 24 is also provided with an angularly offset extension arm 32which is pivotally connected as at 34 to a rearwardly projecting bracket36 on the bucket. The arms 24 are of suflicient length to guide thebucket through a vertical are over the top of the tractor in a manner tobe presently described.

In accordance with the invention, the overhead attachment includes arelatively simple overhead frame 38 which is essentially comprised of apair of inverted, generally U-shaped tubes 4d, one end of each tubebeing rigrdlv secured as at 42 at the front end of the tractor and. theother end being rigidly secured to a bracket 44 mounted on the rear endof the tractor. If necessary, the tubes comprising the frame can beadditionally secured to the tractor to insure rigidity. Mounted on thetop of the frame 38 in vertical alignment with the bucket arm pivotconnections 26 is a platform 46 having upstanding end fianges 48 inwhich are journalled the ends of a reduction drum unit indicatedgenerally at St in FIGURES l and 2. The platform 46 also serves as aprotective canopy or cover for the tractor operator.

The reduction drum unit 5%) forms an important part of the bucketelevating control means and comprises a center drum 52 and a pair ofside drums 54 which are coaxially mounted as by being fixed to a commonaxle 56. In accordance with the invention, the center drum 52 has aconsiderably larger diameter than the side drums 54 (which are of equaldiameter) so as to provide a reduction in the winding rate between thecenter and side drums, the reduction in the embodiment shown beingapproximately 5 to 1. A cable 58 is anchored at one end to, and woundaround, the center drum 52 and at its other end this cable is operablyconnected to the winch of a standard cable control unit 6% mounted inthe usual manner at the front end of the tractor. An additional cable 62is anchored at its ends to side drums 54, and an intermediate portion ofthis cable is secured to the bucket 22 in a manner to be presentlydescribed.

As best shown in FIGURE 2, the cables 58 and 62 are connected to thedrums 52 and 54 in such a manner that they will be oppositely affectedwhen the common axle 56 of the drum reduction unit is turned. Thus, thecable 58 is wound around the center drum 52 in the opposite directionthat the cable 62 is wound around the side drums 54. Accordingly, whenthe cable control unit 61) is driven so that it unwinds cable 53 fromthe center drum, the side drums operate to wind in the cable 62 andelevate the bucket.

In passing from the center and side drums to the cable control unit andbucket respectively, the cables are guided over the tractor engine by acenter idler sheave 64 and side idler rollers 66. The sheave and rollersmay be rotatably mounted on a common axle 68 journalled in brackets 70on a cross bar 72 that is rigidly secured by any suitable means to theoverhead frame tubes 4i).

As best shown in FIGURES 1 and 4, the cable 62 can be secured to thebucket 22 as by being passed in a continuous manner through the bucket,the cable passing around the underside of cross bar 28 and through ahole '73into the bucket, FIGURE 4, and thence along the insideo-f thebottom wall of the bucket and back out through a second hole spaced fromhole 73. Within the bucket, a guard member 74 overlies the cable. Wherethe cable passes around the underside of cross bar 28, the latter isprovided with transverse cable receiving notches 75 each of which has acable engaging roller 76. This arrangement serves as a cable evener sothat the pull exerted on the end portions of the cable by the side drums'54 is uniform. In the alternative, separate bucket cables can beemployed, each of which is secured at one end to one of the drums 54 andat the other end to a suitable point on the bucket.

I11 operation, the bucket 22 is initially positioned as shown in FEGURE1, and the tractor may be driven forward to load the bucket in the usualmanner. Thereafter, with the tractor either moving or standing still,the cable control unit 60 is actuated to unwind the cable 58 from thecenter drum 52 which causes the entire reduction drum unit 56 to rotatein a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 1. Rotation of the drumunit in this direction causes the cable 62 to be wound upon the sidedrums 54 in the manner previously described, and this in turn causes theloaded bucket to be elevated. In this connection, it should be pointedout that the standard cable control unit includes gear reduction meansand this coupled with the reduction between the center and side drumsenables the loaded bucket to be elevated at the desired controlled rateof speed. Obviously, the gear reduction in cable control units varies asbetween manufacturers, but since the sizes of the drums 52, 54 can beeasily changed to vary the reduction in the reduction drum unit, this isnot a problem.

When the loaded bucket has been elevated so that the support arms 24 arein a substantially vertical position, as shown by phantom lines inFIGURE 1, the drive to the cable control unit is disengaged, and thebucket is carried slightly over center by its own momentum. The brakemeans of the cable control unit is then quickly engaged, and the cable62 is allowed to unwind slowly from the drums 54 to control the downwardmovement of the bucket. When the bucket reaches a position clear of theend of the tractor, the bucket supporting arms 24 are engaged by anadjustable and detachable stop 78, FIGURES 1 and 2, which is rigidlymounted on the overhead frame tubes 40 as shown. The stop 78 preventsfurther downward movement of the arms 24, and thereafter furtherunwinding of the cable 62 permits the bucket to pivot around its pivotalconnections 34 with the extension arms 24- to discharge the contents ofthe bucket into the truck positioned near the rear of the tractor. Toreturn the bucket to its digging or scooping position at the front endof the tractor, the reverse procedure is followed and the steps justdescribed can be then repeated. In conventional cable control units, thedrive, clutch and brake means forming a part of the unit are normallycontrolled by a single control member which facilitates the abovedescribed operation.

FIGURE 3 shows an alternative arrangement whereby the invention can beutilized for front as well as rear loading. In this arrangement, thebucket 22' is pivotally secured to the ends of the supporting arms 24 asat 30, and a conventional hydraulic cylinder 82 is connected between anextension 84 on each supporting arm and a bracket 86 on the bucket abovethe pivot connections 80. This arrangement permits the hydrauliccylinder 82 to be operated by conventional controls to tip the bucket 22in the direction of arrow 83 for front loading. As will be understood,this arrangement also permits rear Vehicle load ing in the mannerpreviously described.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the inventiondisclosed herein provides a simple yet very practical overhead loadingattachment which can be utilized with any tractor having a standardcable or power control unit. Moreover, it will be understood that theinvention can be utilized with either a front or rear mounted controlunit and is adapted for either front or rear loadmg.

It should also be pointed out that the cable arrangement of theinvention can be utilized in connection with a standard bulldozer blade.In such case, the arms 24 and bucket 22 are removed and the blade isattached in the usual manner. With the overhead frame 38 remaining inplace, the cables 62 are then connected to the blade and serve tocontrol the height thereof.

As will be apparent to those familiar with the art, the invention may beembodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit oressential characteristics thereof. The embodiment disclosed is thereforeto be considered in all respects as illustrative rather thanrestrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a self-propelled tractor having a standard cablecontrol unit at one end thereof, said cable control unit including awinch, and drive, clutch and brake means therefor: a pair of elongatedarm members pivotally connected to the sides of the tractor adjacent therear end thereof, a collecting and loading bucket pivotally connected tothe outer ends of said arm members, said arm members being of sufiicientlength to guide said bucket through a vertical are from a scoopingposition at one end of the tractor to a dumping position adjacent theopposite end thereof, an overhead frame supported by the tractor, saidframe comprising a pair of continuous tubular members having aninverted, generally U-shape mounted on the opposite sides of the tractorin parallel relation to the longitudinal axis thereof, a horizontallydisposed reduction drum unit mounted transversely on the top of saidframe in substantially vertical alignment with the pivotal connectionbetween said arm members and tractor, said reduction drum unitcomprising on a single axis a pair of side drums of equal diameter and acentral drum having a substantially larger diameter than that of theside drums, a first cable connected at one end to said central drum andat the other end to the tractor cable control unit winch, a second cableconnected between each side drum and said bucket, said cables being P-positely wound on said central and side drums guide means on said framefor said cables between the control unit and the reduction drum unit,said cable control unit drive means being operable to unwind said centerdrum whereby the second cable is wound on said side drums and saidbucket is elevated from its scooping position at one end of the tractorto a vertical, overhead position, said cable control unit brake meansbeing operable to control the downward movement of the bucket beyond thevertical, overhead position towards its dumping position adjacent theopposite end of the tractor, stop means operably connected to saidoverhead frame to limit the downward movement of said bucket supportingarm members and bucket engaging means on the outer ends of said armmembers below the pivotal connection between arm members and bucket inscooping position, said second cable being secured at either end to saidside drums and having a running connection with said bucket guided bysaid bucket engaging means, whereby said bucket may be raised fromscooping position by winding said second cable and released for dumpingby unwinding said second cable.

2. Structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said second cable extendscontinuously from one of the side drums to the bucket and thence back tothe other side drum, said bucket engaging means having guide means forsaid cable, and said bucket having apertures through which the cable ispassed for a running connection with said bucket.

3. In combination with a self-propelled tractor having a standard cablecontrol unit at one end thereof: a loading bucket, a pair of elongatedarm members pivotally connected at one end to said bucket and pivotallyconnected at the other end to the sides of the tractor, said arm membersbeing of sufiicient length to guide said bucket through a vertical arefrom a scooping position at one end of the tractor to a dumping positionadjacent the opposite end of the tractor, bucket engaging means on saidarm members below the pivotal connection between said arm members andsaid bucket in scooping position, an overhead frame supported on thetractor, a horizontally disposed multiple drum unit transversely mounted.in said frame in substantially vertical alignment with the pivotalconnection between said arm members and the tractor, said drum unithaving a pair of driving drums at either side and a central driven drumoperatively connected thereto, a first cable operatively connecting saiddriven drum and the tractor control unit, a second cable operativelyconnecting said driving drums and said bucket and having a runningconnection with said bucket engaging means, the ends of said secondcable being secured to said driving drums, cable guide means on saidframe between the control unit and said driven drum and between saiddriving drums and said bucket in scooping position, and stop means onsaid frame to limit the downward movement of said bucket in dumpingposition, whereby said bucket may be raised from scooping position bywinding in said second cable and released for dumping by unwinding saidsecond cable.

4. In combination with a self-propelled tractor having a standard cablecontrol unit at one end thereof, said cable control unit including awinch and drive, clutch, and brake means therefor: a pair of elongatedarm members pivotally connected to the sides of the tractor, a loadingbucket pivotally connected to the outer ends of said members, said armmembers being of sufiicient length to guide said bucket through avertical are from a scooping position at one end of the tractor to adumping position adjacent the opposite end thereof, an overhead framesupported by the tractor and including side members mounted in parallelrelation to the longitudinal axis of the tractor and a horizontallydisposed reduction drum unit transa central driven drum, first cablemeans operatively con-- necting said driven drum and the tractor controlunit winch, second cable means operatively connecting said driving drumsand said bucket, cable guide means on said frame between the controlunit and the driven drum and between the driving drums and said bucketin scooping position, stop means operably connected to said frame tolimit the downward movement of said bucket in dumping position, andbucket engaging means on the outer ends of said arm members below thepivotal connection between said arm members and said bucket in scoopingposition, said second cable means having its ends secured to saiddriving drums and having a running connection with said bucket engagingmeans, whereby said bucket may be raised from scooping position bywinding in said second cable means and released for dumping by unwindingsaid second cable means.

References Cited the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,316,760Anderson et al Apr. 20, 1943 2,610,752 Luebbers Sept. 16, 1952 2,631,745Addison Mar. 17, 1953 2,691,453 Knoploh Oct. 12, 1954 2,692,061 FreoufOct. 19, 1954

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A SELF-PROPELLED TRACTOR HAVING A STANDARD CABLECONTROL UNIT AT ONE END THEREOF, SAID CABLE CONTROL UNIT INCLUDING AWINCH, AND DRIVE, CLUTCH AND BRAKE MEANS THEREFOR; A PAIR OF ELONGATEDARM MEMBERS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE SIDES OF THE TRACTOR ADJACENT THEREAR END THEREOF, A COLLECTING AND LOADING BUCKET PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TOTHE OUTER ENDS OF SAID ARM MEMBERS, SAID ARM MEMBERS BEING OF SUFFICIENTLENGTH TO GUIDE SAID BUCKET THROUGH A VERTICAL ARC FROM A SCOOPINGPOSITION AT ONE END OF THE TRACTOR TO A DUMPING POSITION ADJACENT THEOPPOSITE END THEREOF, AN OVERHEAD FRAME SUPPORTED BY THE TRACTOR, SAIDFRAME COMPRISING A PAIR OF CONTINUOUS TUBULAR MEMBERS HAVING ANINVERTED, GENERALLY U-SHAPE MOUNTED ON THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE TRACTORIN PARALLEL RELATION TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS THEREOF, A HORIZONTALLYDISPOSED REDUCTION DRUM UNIT MOUNTED TRANSVERSELY ON THE TOP OF SAIDFRAME IN SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE PIVOTAL CONNECTIONBETWEEN SAID ARM MEMBERS AND TRACTOR, SAID REDUCTION DRUM UNITCOMPRISING ON A SINGLE AXIS A PAIR OF SIDE DRUMS OF EQUAL DIAMETER AND ACENTRAL DRUM HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY LARGER DIAMETER THAN THAT OF THESIDE DRUMS, A FIRST CABLE CONNECTED AT ONE END TO SAID CENTRAL DRUM ANDAT THE OTHER END TO THE TRACTOR CABLE CONTROL UNIT WINCH, A SECOND CABLECONNECTED BETWEEN EACH SIDE DRUM AND SAID BUCKET, SAID CABLES BEINGOPPOSITELY WOUND ON SAID CENTRAL AND SIDE DRUMS GUIDE MEANS ON SAIDFRAME FOR SAID CABLES BETWEEN THE CONTROL UNIT AND THE REDUCTION DRUMUNIT, SAID CABLE CONTROL UNIT DRIVE MEANS BEING OPERABLE TO UNWIND SAIDCENTER DRUM WHEREBY THE SECOND CABLE IS WOUND ON SAID SIDE DRUMS ANDSAID BUCKET IS ELEVATED FROM ITS SCOOPING POSITION AT ONE END OF THETRACTOR TO A VERTICAL, OVERHEAD POSITION, SAID CABLE CONTROL UNIT BRAKEMEANS BEING OPERABLE TO CONTROL THE DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF THE BUCKETBEYOND THE VERTICAL, OVERHEAD POSITION TOWARDS ITS DUMPING POSITIONADJACENT THE OPPOSITE END OF THE TRACTOR, STOP MEANS OPERABLY CONNECTEDTO SAID OVERHEAD FRAME TO LIMIT THE DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID BUCKETSUPPORTING ARM MEMBERS AND BUCKET ENGAGING MEANS ON THE OUTER ENDS OFSAID ARM MEMBERS BELOW THE PIVOTAL CONNECTION BETWEEN ARM MEMBERS ANDBUCKET IN SCOOPING POSITION, SAID SECOND CABLE BEING SECURED AT EITHEREND TO SAID SIDE DRUMS AND HAVING A RUNNING CONNECTION WITH SAID BUCKETGUIDED BY SAID BUCKET ENGAGING MEANS, WHEREBY SAID BUCKET MAY BE RAISEDFROM SCOOPING POSITION BY WINDING SAID SECOND CABLE AND RELEASED FORDUMPING BY UNWINDING SAID SECOND CABLE.